Danicing Through January

The holidays are now over and winter is upon us and even those who choose to sleep outside are looking for warmth and comfort somewhere. This is a dangerous time for many … the old, the exposed, the young … and those of us who try to help these people are busy trying to accommodate as many as we possibly can.

Christmas is over and all during that time it sometimes felt as though everybody in the world cared about what we do at Union Mission as they donated, volunteered, dropped off toys and tried to embody peace on earth and good will towards men. We are into the New Year now and we will have to wait until next Christmas when so many people focus their attention on our work at the same time and with the same passion.

So it is a normal day when we are like everybody else. Our noses are to the grindstone as we focus on the tasks at hand. I find myself cussing the water damage to the roof of the Magdalene Project, our shelter for women and children, and the fact that it is closed until the money can be found to repair the place. In the meantime, 65 women and their children are all doubled up somewhere, or staying on somebody’s sofa, or they are out on the streets. Almost half of the people who are homeless are women and children.

Yet there is also cause for joy and good tidings as the Dutchtown campus has its grand opening this week. The 48-unit apartment complex was built for homeless people living with disabilities. Families began moving in just before Christmas and the celebration of its completion will provide comfort and community to many for years to come.

So the year begins like every year. There are bad things happening and there are good things happening. And they are happening at the same time as they almost always do leaving us challenged to not be torn apart as they tug us in their direction.

And we find ourselves surrounded by good people and some not so good people. We’ll do our best to gravitate towards the good and shy away from the bad. And we will also again come to the realization that in the end we are all in this together and it will be some connection of us is what will get us through. And we will cling to those we love and pray that more of those kinds of people come our way.

In my office is a gift that Sister Pauline O’Brien once gave me. It is an image of a woman gracefully dancing on the ice. One arm is extending high above her head while the other sweeps around her. One leg is lifted and the other is on tip toes as she swirls. The faintest of smiles adorns her face. At the bottom are the words, “When you find yourself on thin ice, you may as well dance.”

So my friends, let’s start this year by dancing shall we? You may as well.